Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68225, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward further legislative proposals on animal sentience in addition to the provisions of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022; and what steps his Department is considering to help increase animal sentience protections.

The Department published the Animal Welfare Strategy on 22 December 2025. The Strategy sets out the priority issues Government will address, focusing on the changes and improvements it aims to achieve by 2030.

The Animal Welfare Strategy will deliver further ambitious improvements for sentient animals, including through legislation where necessary. While the Government has no immediate plans to bring forward additional legislation on animal sentience beyond the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, it will keep the legislative framework under review as the Strategy is delivered and consider further action where appropriate.